May 12, 2021 meeting

Chair Dalton called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television via Zoom.

Interview, Recycling Committee candidates

Two candidates, Kimberlee Kossover Hansen and Sarah Parsons, appeared before the Board to interview for a single vacancy on the Recycling Committee.

Ms. Hansen has resided here for nine years and said recycling is passion of hers both professionally and personally. She is the president of the Lynnfield Moms Group. She also discussed brining more awareness to the community of recycling and composting, both for the benefit to the Town financially and to the environment.

Ms. Parsons said she is also an enthusiastic recycler and has discussed the committee with member Patricia Fabbri. She said while walking in Town she has noticed that much is thrown out that could be recycled. She also said she has done curbside composting for over two years and has reduced her household trash to one bag per week. She also discussed textile recycling and reusing items such as bicycles and mattresses.

Board members thanked the candidates for volunteering and said they were both outstanding candidates. Chair Dalton asked if the candidate who is not chosen would be willing to serve as alternate members both said they would.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to appoint Kimberlee Kossover Hansen as a member of the Recycling Committee with a term to expire June 30, 2023 and to appoint Sarah Parsons as an alternate member. Vote was unanimous.

Passing of Robert Weiss

Chair Dalton expressed the condolences of the Board and the Town to the family of former Board member and School Committee member Robert Weiss, who was instrumental in founding LIFE, Inc. He said he has had a major impact on the community.

Acceptance of gift from Calvary Christian Church for restoration of the bell

The Calvary Christian Church has presented a donation of $5,700 for the restoration of the bell on the common. The bell, once housed in the meeting house and used as the Town’s fire alarm bell, will be restored by the same company that recently restored the Massachusetts 54th regiment memorial on Boston Common.

Chair Dalton thanked Pastor Jamie Booth and the members of the church for their support of this effort, which is part of the common improvements program that is ongoing. Board members also thanked Pastor Booth and his congregation.

Chair Dalton also noted that the House budget included $100,000 for the new War Memorial. This will now be taken up by the Senate for consideration.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to accept the donation of $5,700 for the restoration of the bell on the common. Vote was unanimous.

Ratification of appointment of police patrolman

Mr. Connell recused. himself for this portion of the meeting, saying that a candidate for the position is a relative.

Town Administrator Robert Dolan has accepted a recommendation from Interim Police Chief Nick Secatore that Andrew McDonald, a Lynnfield native, be appointed a police patrolman. Mr. McDonald was the high scorer on the civil service list and underwent a background check, interview and review by the department. He will be attending the spring police academy. Under the Charter, the Town Administrator is the appointing authority, but traditionally new police officers have been brought to the Board for ratification of their appointment.

Chief Secatore said that Mr. McDonald has been a member of the community for over 30 years and was the high scorer on the civil service list among all applicants. He distinguished himself among the applicants, and has experience in crisis management and guiding people through difficult times. He is slated to attend the June police academy.

Mr. Dolan said that Mr. McDonald has his full support and will be an excellent police officer. He showed himself to be an excellent candidate throughout the thorough vetting process.

Mr. McDonald thanked the chief and pledged to represent the Town as best as he can. Mr. Dalton and Mr. Crawford members congratulated Mr. McDonald and said they are happy to see a local candidate be appointed.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to ratify the appointment of Andrew McDonald as police patrolman. Vote was 2-0 (Mr. Connell not participating).

Interview, Historical Commission associate member

John Hagar has applied to be an associate member of the Historical Commission. His appointment has been recommended by the commission chair, Kirk Mansfield, who said he has a strong family history and passion for preserving Lynnfield history. He said commission members were impressed by his interest and knowledge.

Mr. Hagar said he moved to Town in 1987 and discussed his military and professional experience, having worked in management at Raytheon and operating his own business. He is also active in the Beverly Power Squadron.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to appoint John Hagar as an associate member of the Historical Commission with a term to expire June 30, 2023. Vote was unanimous.

Interview, Board of Appeals alternate member

Elizabeth Gaskins has applied to be an alternate member of the Board of Appeals.  That Board is currently in need of alternate members. She told the Board she is a physician working with frail elders at a community health center in Boston. She has resided in Lynnfield for seven years and has a daughter in the Lynnfield public schools.

Board members thanked her for her interest and willingness to serve. Mr. Crawford said the Board of Appeals is an important board.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to appoint Elizabeth Gaskins as an alternate member of the Board of Appeals with a term to expire June 30, 2023. Vote was unanimous.

Review of annual town meeting warrant articles

Planning Board Chair Brian Charville and Town Engineer Charlie Richter have been invited to discuss the proposed Tree Bylaw and the revisions for the Stormwater Bylaw, respectively.

The proposed tree bylaw was tentatively listed at Article 20. This was a revision of the bylaw proposed at the previous town meeting, which was withdrawn due to the desire to further consider citizen input.

Mr. Charville said he understands that the Board has not had a lot of time to review the proposed bylaw and asked that the Board consider either postponing a recommendation until a later date. He also said that the Board could postpone taking up the article until the fall town meeting.

Chair Dalton said he favors waiting until the fall to allow the Board and the Town to fully consider the matter. Mr. Crawford and Mr. Connell agreed. Mr. Connell said the proposal represents a lot of hard work by the Planning Board.

Chair Dalton said the Board’s consensus is to wait until the fall. Mr. Charville said that this new bylaw only applies to lots on which building activity is taking place. Planning Board member Amy McNulty said the Planning Board is ready and is focused on responsible tree management and that this proposal is a response to residents’ concerns.

Asst. Town Administrator Bob Curtin reviewed the proposed annual town meeting warrant. The articles have been reviewed and approved for form by town counsel and the town accountant has reviewed the financial articles. Bond counsel has provided language for the articles that include borrowing.

Mr. Curtin said Articles 1through five are routine articles included in each warrant. Articles 6 and 7 are the operating and capital budgets, Articles 8 and 9 allow for appropriations to the Stabilization and Capital Facilities Funds, and Article 10 sets maximum amounts for the Town’s Revolving Funds for the fiscal year. Articles 11 and 12 are the Emergency Medical Services and Golf enterprise budgets. Article 13 is the authorization of borrowing of additional funds for the elementary schools expansion projects. Article 14 would rescind excess authorizations to borrow for past programs that have been completed or are no longer in use. Article 15 would authorize a lease agreement under which the Town would pay for new energy-efficient equipment at Town properties through the savings realized in utility bills. Article 16 would amend the Town’s fee bylaw to bring Town fees in various departments to levels that reflect current practices and rates in other local communities. Article 17 would increase the annual hours that seniors participating in the tax work-off program can work. Article 18 would accept a provision of state law allowing the Town to match certain tax property tax exemptions allowed by the state for qualifying seniors, veterans and the blind. Article 19 would allow the Town to accept Zepaj Lane as a public way. Article 21, which would be renumbered as Article 20, would revise the Town’s Stormwater Bylaw to bring it into compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

Town Engineer Charles Richter said these changes are innocuous and would be accompanied by rules and regulations changes by both the Planning Board and Conservation Commission.

The revised proposed warrant is below:

ARTICLE 1. To act on reports of Town officers and special committees as published; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 2. To choose all Town officers not required to be chosen by ballot, viz.: three field drivers, one pound keeper and three wood measurers; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to FIX THE COMPENSATION of each of the Elective Officers of the Town as required by General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 108; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds, sums of money to supplement certain accounts in the current 2021 Fiscal Year where balances are below projected expenditures for various reasons; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds, sums of money to pay overdue bills of a prior fiscal year; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds, or otherwise, a sum of money for the necessary Town charges and expenses; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds or by borrowing, or from any or all such sources, sums of money for the purchase of various equipment and items in the nature of capital expenditure and to give authority to credit the value of the various old equipment to be turned in toward the purchase price of said items, said sums of money to be expended under the direction of various Town boards, committees, or officers; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money for the town’s Capital Facilities Fund; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money for the town’s Stabilization Fund; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to establish, with respect to each of the following revolving funds, the following limits on the total amount that may be expended from each such fund in Fiscal Year 2022:

or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money from Emergency Medical Service Enterprise receipts to pay expenses and contractual services required to operate the emergency medical service in the Town of Lynnfield, said Enterprise Fund to be credited with all fees and charges received during Fiscal Year 2022 from persons using said service; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money from Golf Enterprise receipts and/or Golf Enterprise Retained Earnings to pay expenses and contractual services required to operate the Reedy Meadow Golf Course and King Rail Golf Course, said Enterprise Fund to be credited with all fees and charges received during Fiscal Year 2022 from persons using the golf courses; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds or by borrowing, or from any or all such sources, sums of money for security equipment, drainage and site improvements, any and all other measures that may be necessary to complete work on the elementary schools renovation    project; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the unused borrowing authority voted under the below-listed previous Town Meeting articles; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to authorize, under G.L. c. 44, § 21C, upon the recommendation of the Select Board, a lease purchase financing agreement for the acquisition of energy efficiency improvements, equipment that may be acquired through the issuance of debt under G.L. c. 44, the term of such agreement not to exceed twenty (20) years, the useful life of the equipment as determined by the Select Board, and the Department of Public Works shall be authorized to enter into such agreement on behalf of the Town, subject to approval of an appropriation for the first year payments by vote of a future Town Meeting, or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 143 of the General Bylaws, entitled “Fees,” by making the following changes and additions.

ARTICLE III                                                    BOARD OF ASSESSORS FEES

Abutters Lists                                                  change $5.00 to $15.00

ARTICLE V                                                     FIRE DEPARTMENT FEES

Open Burning Permit (Annual)                      change 10.00 to $15.00 Commercial Inspection without FACP          change $25.00 to $50.00 Oil Burner Install/Alteration                                 change $10.00 to $25.00

LPN/Propane Storage                                     change $10.00 to $25.00

Fixed Extinguishing System                            change $25.00 to $50.00

Nursing Home Inspection                               change $10.00 to $25.00

Day Care Center                                             change $10.00 to $25.00

Private School                                                 change $10.00 to $25.00

Innholders                                                       change $10.00 to $25.00 Blasting Permit (detail required)                                  change $10.00 to $50.00 Tar Kettle Operation                                                        change $25.00 to $50.00

Fireworks Display                                          change $25.00 to $50.00 Tank Truck Inspection (2 Years)                              change $15.00 to $25.00 Dumpster Permit                                                             change $20.00 to $25.00

Master Box Fee                                               change $250.00 to $310.00

(New fees)

Municipal F/A Disconnect/Reconnect (After hours) $175.00 Nuisance Alarms per Calendar year (1-3)                                 no fee

(4-6) fee per response                                     $40.00

(7-9) fee per response                                     $50.00

9+ fee per response                                        $100.00

ARTICLE VII                          DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FEES

White goods and televisions                            change $25.00 to $30.00 with CRT's greater than $36"                     change $50.00 to $60.00 Recycling yard stickers non-seniors                                        change $10.00 to $20.00

Recycling yard stickers for seniors                 change $5.00 to $10.00 Street access permits                                                 change $10.00 to $20.00 (New fee)

Bulk items                                                        $10.00

CEMETERY FEES    

Residents and Former Employees

Single Grave                                       change $350.00 to $600.00

Total Cost Per Grave                          change $750.00 to $1,000.00 Former Residents (Two-Grave Limit)

Single Grave                                       change $1,000.00 to $1,200.00

Total Cost Per Grave                          change $1,800.00 to $2,000.00 Interment                                                                        change $650.00 to $750.00

Saturday/Holiday Additional                          change $325.00 to $400.00

Cremation Burial                                            change $225.00 to $300.00

Saturday/Holiday                                            change $325.00 to $400.00

Exhumation                                                     change $650.00 to $1,000.00 Winter Fee (December 1-March 31)                          change $100.00 to $200.00 Deed                                                                        change $20.00 to $50.00

ARTICLE VIII                                     TAX COLLECTOR'S FEES

Demand Fees                                      change $5.00 to $15.00 Municipal Lien Certificate                                    change $25.00 to $50.00

ARTICLE X                 ZONING AND INSPECTIONAL SERVICES FEES ELECTRICAL FEES

Residential Additions/Renovations

First 1-10 outlets (i.e. lighting, receptacles)               $50.00

(change is removing words “appliances and special equipment”)

Residential Services: Changes or Alterations

Sub-panels                                           change $50.00 to $75.0 Each additional panel                                                          $25.00

Commercial Additions/Renovations

First 1-10 outlets (i.e. lighting, receptacles)               $50.00

(change is removing words “appliances and special equipment”)

Miscellaneous (New charges)

Electric dryer, electric range, wall oven(s), cooktop

or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to adjust the property tax exemption under

M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5K, the so-called “senior tax reduction program,” by allowing the maximum reduction of the real property tax bill to be based on 125 volunteer service hours in a given tax year; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5C-1/2, to provide an additional exemption of 100 per cent of the exemption for which the taxpayer qualifies in addition to any exemption allowable pursuant to said Section 5; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public way, as laid out and reported by the Board of Selectmen, Zepaj Lane, as shown on the “Street Acceptance Plan, Zepaj Lane, Lynnfield, Mass.” by Hayes Engineering, Inc. dated October 30, 2019. a copy of which plan is on file at the office of the Town Clerk and available for inspection, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by gift, purchase or eminent domain such interests in land as may be necessary or appropriate to create such public way, or to take any other action in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 213 of the General Bylaws, entitled “Stormwater Management,” by deleting the text marked with strike- throughs and adding the underlined text as shown in the version of the said chapter that is on file with the Town Clerk, which amendments include minor editorial corrections and updated definitions; or to take any other action in connection therewith.

Closing of town meeting warrant

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the annual town meeting warrant be closed and all articles presented included with the exception of the tree bylaw article. Vote was unanimous.

Mr. Dolan said the Town’s COVID rate is now a recent low, and that Standard and Poor has reviewed the Town’s finances and gave the Town an AA Plus rating, which will ensure low interest rates on the Town’s upcoming borrowing.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the meeting be adjourned.

The Board adjourned at 6:53 p.m.